Well SB1224 LaMalfa fell two votes short (3 yes & 1 no) of passing theSenate Trans Committee today. However, if LaMalfa can round up twomore votes then the bill passes through that committee. Those whovoted in favor of the bill are Senators Gaines, Harman and Wyland.Those who voted against are Senators DeSaulnier, Lowenthal, Pavley andSimitian. Senators Kehoe and Rubio did not vote on the bill.

In the meantime, I urge you to Contact Senators DeSaulnier, Lowenthal,Pavley, Simitian, Kehoe and Rubio *(Contact Info Below)* Immediatelyto Request Their Support for S.B. 1224. Please do not email theseSenators, we have found that they do not read their emails. Pleasephone or fax your support of this bill. In addition, please feel freeto use any of the following information in your calls or faxes.

In the bill analysis from members of the American Lung Association;Sierra Club; and the Bay Area Air Quality folks we found some of thestatements to be false, a bit confusing, and often times misleading.Below is the rebuttal.

1.* “This bill exempts from the smog check program many vehiclescontributing the highest levels of pollution”.* If the smog checksare being performed properly every two years on the approx 162,000vehicles and the program is successful then how can these vehicles bethe highest contributors?

2.* “In 2004 CARB estimated that, by 2010, pre-1982 cars wouldaccount for more than 1/5 of the hydrocarbons and 1/10 of the nitrousoxide emissions”.* This is an estimate and I repeat an estimate fromover 8 years ago on vehicles pre 1982. What are the numbers today andnot from 2004. I would suggest that if CARB is doing their job thesenumbers should be and are probably lower than stated in the analysis.In addition, this bill talks about pre 1981 not pre 1982.

3. The statements regarding the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) isalso somewhat irrelevant. Paying up to $500.00 for repairs to thevehicle’s smog system when repairs are often $1000.00 or more justfor a CARB approved catalytic convertor doesn’t help lower incomefolks. Also BAR providing $1000.00 to retire the vehicle doesn’thelp the same lower income folks who need a car to get back and forthto work.

4. Collector Car owners of vehicles 1976 through 1980. i.e. Corvettes,Mustangs, Porsches, Mercedes, Mopars, etc. are all well maintained andthe Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is very low in comparison to theoverall fleet.

5. At the last and final meeting of the California InspectionMaintenance & Review Committee (IMRC) November 2011 the IMRC statedand I quote;

*“Although some argue that pre-1976 model-year vehicles alsocontribute significant emissions, the reality is that this portion ofthe fleet has a very low Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fraction of theoverall fleet. As a result, the cumulative emissions from thesevehicles is probably insignificant”.*

6. This bill recognizes the minimal impact of pre-1981 vehicles onemissions and air quality and acknowledges that pre-1981 vehiclesstill constitute a minuscule portion of the overall vehicle populationand are a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction.

7. This bill endorses the fact that pre-1981 vehicles areoverwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven (a fraction ofthe miles each year as a new vehicle).

8. For years, legislators, regulators and stationary source pollutershave felt the heat from failed efforts to meet air quality goals andhave looked to older cars as a convenient scapegoat, using false dataand inflated annual mileage assumptions to further their case. S.B.1224 helps validate the truth. The old car hobby should not continueto carry the burden of past mistakes!

Seriously, the Sierra Club can go fuck themselves. Rich pricks have bought their way into their own private little wild kingdoms, then use legal bullshit to make sure "their" nature doesn't get despoiled. The ALA can also get bent.

They won't let you drive they're newer, heavier, safer, well insured cars but they'll put you in a 250hp soup can? Dude, your parents are dicks.

Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car andOversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car.Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall,Torque is how far you take the wall with you.